Red Bull KTM's Ken Roczen (Photo: Simon Cudby)

You have to give Stewart all the credit in the world for toughing out his ACL injury, but considering everything he’s had to endure in just four rounds, it has to be increasingly difficult to keep pushing through the pain. I’m inclined to think that based on the way he fell off his bike in Oakland, and his subsequent reaction once he got back on his feet, that the knee is a little worse than it was. The grimace on Stewart’s face with nearly every step was further indicator that things just aren’t getting any better, but he’s making it clear that almost nothing will keep him off the track this season.

Just days after losing his ride for the 2013 season, Andrew Short showed up with his own privateer effort in Oakland and finished sixth in his debut as a team owner. It’s good to see that Short refused to sit idle, and it’s even better knowing he was able to get a solid effort out of the late setup. It looks like things are status quo for the veteran heading into Anaheim, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get picked up by someone before too long.

Meanwhile, in 250SX action -- Eli Tomac may have had flashbacks to his San Diego crash of a year ago while laying on the dirt in pain in Oakland. Last year, he gave up his points lead to Dean Wilson, only to battle his way back into the lead to claim the championship. Now, he’s given up his advantage to Ken Roczen (as well as Cole Seely) and will have a much tougher hill to climb this time around. Tomac looked to have had a real chance to sweep all eight races of the West Region, but it just goes to show you how quickly things can change in this sport.

Aside from being a little sore, it doesn’t seem as though Tomac has any lingering effects from his crash and he's still the rider to beat. Roczen has proven that he’s the biggest threat to Tomac’s dominance, but now that the points have essentially flip-flopped in Roczen’s favor, it’s going to be intriguing to see how the reigning champ responds this time around. Be prepared for an intense showdown between this duo.

Only two more So Cal stops remain before the dome-heavy middle part of the season kicks into high gear. We still haven't come close to witnessing the full potential of what this season can bring, but Villopoto is on the verge of taking control. His rivals know that stopping this run is crucial, so don’t be surprised if the final stop in Anaheim becomes the best race of the season to date.